Sailfaster: The No 1 podcast for racing sailors

Today’s guest is Chelsea Freas, a highly sought-after expert in weather and routing forecasts for sailors of all kinds—offshore racers, regatta competitors, cruisers, and even Olympians. She’s the founder of SeaTactics, offering marine weather solutions like weather routing, regatta forecasting, navigation, consulting, and education—check out www.sea-tactics.com - it includes some excellent free courses!

Chelsea shares how she began her career in weather forecasting, the forecasting challenges she tackles and the sailors she supports. We’ll also dive into topics like wind shear, sea breezes, which racing locations are harder to forecast than others, and her favourite weather apps....  Fun fact: Chelsea is not only a competitive sailor herself but also a new mom!

We’re switching to offshore racing in the Southern Pacific/Australia for this episode!  Richard Hudson has racked up over 150 offshore races of 200 miles or more, including multiple Rolex Sydney-Hobart Races, 34 Sydney-Gold Coast Races, China Sea races, Hong Kong to Philippines, Hong Kong to Vietnam, the 600 mile New Caledonia Groupama Race and many more.  Richard is the owner of Farr 45 Pretty Woman, a proud Corinthian and a member of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. He’s a winner of the Hobart race’s Corinthian division and Wild Rose division, as well as many podium finishes in IRC.  Richard was awarded Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 2023 Ocean Veteran of the Year.  

What makes Richard stand out is his emphasis on bringing younger sailors into the sport.   Pretty Woman’s crew blends deep offshore experience with younger sailors from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, enabling many young sailors to experience offshore racing at its toughest.

A fascinating discussion with a top ocean racing veteran!

Really enjoyed my conversation with top Chicago sailors George Simkins and Mark Fruin about the famous Mackinac Race.  With multiple podiums between them, you'll hear how they prepare their J111 and J105 for the race, how they think about routing decisions, dealing with tough conditions, avoiding the black flies, why sailing racing is worth investing time in, and finally how Sailfaster caused Mark to have an anxiety attack while flying to a wedding!  Lots to learn from this insightful, fascinating and funny discussion!

So much to learn from Ryan Simmons and Brent Draney of San Francisco-based J/105 Blackhawk!  In this episode we interview Ryan and Brent fresh off their recent success at San Francisco’s Rolex Big Boat Series. We discuss crew dynamics and longevity, the crossovers between business and sailing as well as the team’s history of success including Blackhawk’s six victories in the Big Boat Series.  Brent and Ryan dive into how consistent teamwork, preparation, innovation and some serious hiking have contributed to Blackhawk’s impressive track record in competitive sailing!

Part 2 of my thoroughly enjoyable conversation with Tom McLaughlin in which he recalled what went wrong with the NYYC's 1987 America's Cup campaign, along with great anecdotes about Dennis Connor, insights on Buddy Melges' helming, and the fundamentals of winning sailing races.  Such an interesting, talented and gracious guest!

Tom McLaughlin's sailing career is enviable. Growing up in San Diego - then the hotbed of offshore racers -Tom was mentored by Dennis Connor, Buddy Melges and Lowell North. He’s raced in multiple Admirals Cups including the infamous 1979 Fastnet race, and gained deep experience of the America’s Cup through two challenger campaigns - he was training helmsmen racing for John Kolius in the New York Yacht Club's 1985 America II campaign, and Sailing Director of the 2007 AREVA Challenge in Valencia with Dawn Riley.  All during a long career at North Sails. Tom's tenure in racing boats also includes maxis and super yachts, today however he's has found contentment racing Lido 14 one designs in Portland, Oregon.  

In Part 1 we’ll hear Tom’s experience of the 1979 Fastnet tragedy, the evolution of sail design and its impact on racing performance, and the America II campaign.

Here’s the very talented Mary Ewenson talking about the 2024 Annapolis Sailboat Show and sailing her Viper 640!  We recorded it outside at the Annapolis Powerboat Show so you’ll notice the background noise, but hopefully it doesn’t diminish your enjoyment of the episode.  Mary’s also the co-founder of the Spinsheet publications and the founder of the EWE Spirit Foundation, which honors the legacy of Geoff Ewenson by helping those facing immediate hardship bridge financial and social support gaps through mentorship, outreach and financial assistance, thus creating a kind world where everyone has the resources and opportunity to live with dignity, hope and joy.

 The upcoming Annapolis Sailboat show is October 10-14, and you can purchase tickets on line at - www.annapolisboatshows.com
To contribute to the EWE Spirit Foundation, just go to www.ewespirit.org!

Multi-time world champion Luke Lawrence talks to Sailfaster podcast about the visualization techniques that are a key part of his preparation for top regattas.  It’s clearly working for him as his record attests: Star junior world champion (with Alexei Selevenov) and 2021 star Western Hemisphere championships with the great Paul Cayard plus the Etchells North Americans, the J24 US Nationals, the J24 Worlds and in his younger days the 2010 Finn junior world title. Tune in to hear Luke talking about visualization, tuning preferences and how he comes back from bad starts by subscribing to Sailfaster wherever you get your favourite podcasts!

To contact Luke for coaching, call him on 772-260-2437.  You’re likely to get his voicemail as he’s always out sailing…

Check out this special episode of Sailfaster focusing on the upcoming Women’s J105 Regatta in Annapolis.  Joining me on the pod were regatta organiser and long time advocate for women in sailing, Molly Wilner, along with top sailors Marie Klok Crump and Claire Ward, all sailing in the regatta.  We discussed the origins and goals of the regatta and had a very interesting discussion about the differences between men and women teams, and the barriers that are often faced by women in the sport.  And on a sombre note, this episode included a tribute to Maggie Flanigan, our dear team mate on London Calling, who unexpectedly passed away last week.

photo credit: Will Keyworth

I was thrilled to chat recently with Britain’s top ocean racer Pip Hare.  Pip is a core member of that extraordinary group of athletes - the round the world solo racing sailors who fly across some of the planet’s most inhospitable oceans in huge, high-tech foiling yachts.  With the 2024 edition of the Vendee Globe blasting off in November, I was lucky enough to catch Pip for a fascinating conversation about her journey to the top in ocean racing, and how she copes with the incredible demands of a Vendee Globe race!  I know you’ll enjoy our chat, but to learn more go to piphare.com or IG @piphareoceanracing